By Michel Outridge 

THE Christmas season is usually a time for joy, laughter and giving; a time to spend with family and loved ones. Many persons look forward to this festive season, but not everyone has the luxury of being able to participate in the celebrations. For those who are unable to really enjoy Christmas, it can be a very tough time. For persons who are confined behind bars, it is no different. In fact, some prisoners do get emotional at this time, while others hold on to the hope that they will get out one day and be reunited with their loved ones.

This year, the Pepperpot Magazine visited the Timehri Prison, Timehri, East Bank Demerara and interacted with a group of inmates to find out how they would spend their time behind bars during the festive season.

Life at the Timehri Prison

Acting Superintendent of Prisons, Amias Benjamin, was on hand to provide a guided a tour of the facility and also took the time to make available four prisoners who shared their experiences with the team.

Benjamin reported that the Timehri Prison was initially a remand centre and was not designed as a maximum security facility, but following the Camp Street Prison fire which gutted the entire building, they had to make accommodation for 140 convicted prisoners, some of whom had short sentences.
He stated that they have three sections of dormitories which house convicts and they have a full strength of 40 prison officers on duty.
Benjamin reported that they utilised the 1.5 acres of land to cultivate cash crops and the produce is used in the kitchen and the excess is sent to other prisons.

He added that the farming is done by prisoners, but due to the pandemic they have scaled down on planting.

Benjamin told the Pepperpot Magazine that they have the facilities to engage inmates in skills training as well as classroom sessions.

They have block-making, joinery, carpentry, the tailor shop, the trade shop literacy sessions and the kitchen, where some prisoners are trained in culinary arts.

The prison officer stated that they have things to do while incarcerated that will prepare them after serving their sentences to be re-integrated into society.

He disclosed that those who participated in violent crimes have to attend anger management classes and other rehabilitation sessions, which are all mandatory.

Benjamin stated that they have several other training courses and they have partnered with Nations University through IDB funding to have a needs assessment in terms of training needed at the facility and other training programmes will be introduced over time.

He pointed out that after completion of those courses convicts will receive certificates which are recognised in the workforce, so when they get out they can become gainfully employed.

“We are aiming to make the convicts marketable when they get out, so that in itself augurs well for society and they can be employed for their skills,” he said.

Not like other Christmases

Benjamin added that for the Christmas season they would usually have their Christmas tree light-up, which members of the public, the community would attend including children and they would have a cultural programme, but with the coronavirus (COVID-19) that will not take place this year.

He noted that annually they would have gifts for the children of the community and the family-bonding for prisoners, whereby their families would visit and have the opportunity to bring home-cooked meals and sit and chat with inmates have also been cancelled due to the pandemic.

Currently, all visits have been cancelled and there are all safety protocols in place where all prison officers are sanitised before entering the compound and hand sanitiser is placed in all sections of the facility, making it available to all prisoners.

Benjamin revealed that since the inmates are away from their families for the holidays, they would ensure they enjoy meals such as Pepperpot and bread, cakes and other goodies as if they were at home.

He reported that they would have church services and other activities, when the inmates get to showcase their talents, but these will not take place this year.

From the prisoners’ perspectives

Under a supervised interview, convict Terrence Sahadeo told the Pepperpot Magazine that after their usual routine on Christmas morning, they would get specially prepared meals and they would have activities to pass the time festively.

He said that this year, it is sad he would not be seeing any family members due to safety precautions.

Sahadeo, 56, is awaiting word from the Parole Board for his release, it will soon be his 36th year in prison and he is looking forward to going home.

In jail, he is in charge of the Tailor Shop, an acquired skill he developed over the years and would sew uniforms for both inmates and prison officers.

“I survive this place every day, knowing that there is hope of me getting out one day; so that brings me some comfort of being reunited with my family once again,” he said.

Another inmate, Prince David Reid told the Pepperpot Magazine that this year would be his fourth Christmas in jail.

He recalled that the first Christmas was spent behind bars at the Lusignan Prison and he was moved to tears because he missed his home and family; but thanks to his dormitory mates, they managed to cheer him up.

Reid, 51, added that special meals like the ones that you get at home are prepared for them and they would be served by the officers and they would try to liven up things for them, knowing that they cannot see their families.

“Old Year’s Night nobody would sleep, we would have church service and a concert, but this year none of that is allowed due to the virus,” he said.

The prisoner stated that while in jail he lost his wife in the second year and he is hoping to get out so he can see his two great-grandchildren for the very first time.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Budhan, 22, related that he is looking forward to Christmas because of the meals and goodies but if he gets a phone call from the Court of Appeal he would be pleased to get out.

He finds comfort in the Bible and has reformed in jail and it is prayers that give him hope of being free once again, he said.

David Parker told the Pepperpot Magazine that he has spent 15 years in jail and has two more years to serve before he is released and he is using the time to motivate others to turn their lives around through church services and by being a motivational speaker.

The 51-year-old stated that jail has been a place that stirred up his mind and had a lot of time to think things over and he is a changed man and when he gets out he wants that change to be seen.

He added that Christmas behind bars isn’t easy for any inmate, but they have a strong brotherhood and they would assist each other to cope.

Parker noted that the prison authorities would provide good food as an incentive for the holidays and they welcome that as well as the family-bonding exercise, which gives them hope.

But unfortunately, this year they will not benefit from the bonding exercise.

He disclosed that they would get a feeling of despair in jail, but they have avenues to express their feelings and they have things to do to occupy their time and they would try to adopt a positive state of mind as a coping mechanism.

“Anybody can come to jail but rehab can change you for the better and one can use their experience to inspire others; so I have a little motto ‘each one, teach one,’ because when I get released I have to re-sell myself to society because of the stigma attached,” he said. “In jail, you have to understand what freedom is and what you ought to do to endure prison and it is the hope of getting out one day that keeps me going, along with fervent prayers and the brotherhood in my dorm,” he said.

Parker added that he gets the support of his family in jail and for that he is thankful, and instead of finding faults with others, he would try to serve and inspire them to be agents of change.